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FDOT preps for S.R. 64 lane shift

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by:
Pam McTeer
News Editor

MANATEE COUNTY — Motorists along State Road 64 soon will get some reprieve from construction work that has been ongoing since late 2007.

Construction crews are preparing to shift traffic on Aug. 20 to the newly constructed lanes on the north side of the roadway from Lena Road to just west of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. The change will provide additional lane capacity at Lena Road and School House Road for the upcoming school year and also will improve eastbound traffic flow at Lena road by providing an additional lane, Florida Department of Transportation spokesperson Cindy Clemmons-Adente said.

Although the lanes look as if they should be open already, crews still are working to clean the site, adjust the signalization and to finalize striping, trafficsigns and other items.

“There are lots of things they have to do still that aren’t that visible,” Clemmons-Adente said. “It doesn’t look like a lot of physical work, but it’s very important work for making sure we are moving traffic safely and efficiently.”

Clemmons-Adente said FDOT would monitor the intersection to make sure traffic is flowing properly once school starts Aug. 24 and will make any necessary adjustments.

Work to widen Upper Manatee River Road and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard as well as the intersection of S.R. 64 and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard will continue during this time.

Clemmons-Adente said construction crews are working at the intersection of S.R. 64 and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard to adjust a 42-inch water main pipe, install a box culvert and prepare to even out the slope of the intersection.

“It’s not your normal intersection improvement,” “We have installation of major drainage structures and we’re also adjusting the level of the road. That’s going to take some time.”

The project to widen S.R. 64 to six lanes began in late November 2007.

The contract with Russell Engineering has been extended from its original 675 days to 782 days because of weather and other issues such as dealing with utilities, Clemmons-Adente said. Otherwise, work is on schedule.

I-75 ramp improvements nearly complete
The Florida Department of Transportation is nearly finished with improvements to the ramps along the Interstate 75 corridor.

The last major ramp closure will occur from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., Aug. 14, as the FDOT closes the northbound ramps from State Road 64 to Interstate 75.

Improvements to interstate ramps started July 24 with work at Interstate 75 from State Road 70 to the Kay Road overpass. The project consisted of milling and resurfacing the roadway, shoulder treatments, guardrail, traffic monitoring and signing and paving marking.

Improvements also were made to I-75 entry and exit ramps. Ramp closures from University Parkway north to State Road 64 were scheduled overnight between July 27 and Aug. 3.

Although improvements are largely completed, workers must complete another round of closures to put a final layer, called the final friction course, on the ramps. No dates for the closures have been set, but they likely will occur at the end of the month.